TCRA challenged on electronic waste management

Njombe district commissioner Sara Dumba has challenged the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) to find way of managing waste from electronic products.

She made the call in a speech read on her behalf by acting district commissioner Bartazar Kessy when opening a seminar on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) for Manyunyu Girls Secondary School students in the district as part of celebrations to mark World Communications Day.

She said that used electronic goods contain chemicals which are harzardous to the environment and living organisms.

Dumba said living organisms, especially human beings, upon coming into contact with the chemicals are affected -- both in the short and long term.

“Sometimes one does not have to touch or swallow them. A product may be badly discarded and if vegetables grow near it, the chemicals may be taken up by the vegetables, thus affecting humans who it them," she argued.

The DC commended TCRA for mobilising the people to use ICT, saying this will help push forward development in the country.

She said the day's theme: 'Women and girls in using Information, Communication and Technology,' has come at the right time given the fact that girls do not think that they could also study science subjects.

“Women are the pillars of their families and societies, but most do not get the opportunity to develop themselves in technology, especially because of the misconception that science studies are not for women," said Dumba.

Earlier, acting TCRA Southern Highlands zonal manager Asajile John Mwakisisile said the communication sector was growing at a fast pace in the country, particularly through the mobile phone technology, TV broadcasts, radio and the internet.

The acting zonal manager said TCRA has been having a huge task of coordinating and controlling communications so that consumers would receive quality services at an affordable cost.

He said, however, that due to technological changes Tanzania should join other countries in the world and move into the digital form of broadcasting TV and radio programmes from the current analogue format.

He said by December 31, this year, all countries in East Africa would switch to the digital format as they switch off the analogue systems, and therefore it is imperative that all stakeholders should prepare for the change.

During the celebrations, TCRA provided training to secondary school students at the end of which questions were asked to evaluate whether they understood what they learned and awards were given to those who did best.

Among presents given included laptops, calculators, T-shirts and cash money to the tune of 20,000/- for each question that was correctly answered.

World Communications Day is normally celebrated on May 17, and this year the celebrations were hosted at the national level by the Southern Highlands Zone.